How to use the Minecraft Sphere & Dome Generator
- Choose a shape. Sphere for a ball, Dome for the top half, or Ellipsoid to set width, height and depth separately.
- Hollow or solid. Hollow builds a shell. Set the wall thickness from one block up to six.
- Step through the layers. Use the slider or arrows. Each layer is a top-down grid. Start at layer 1, the bottom, and work up.
- Take the plan with you. Copy a single layer, or download every layer as a text file. The table lists blocks per layer.
How the shape is chosen
A block is placed when its centre is inside the ellipsoid. A sphere of diameter n has a radius of n divided by two. Hollow shells are made by removing blocks that are completely surrounded by other blocks, once for each point of wall thickness.
Domes
A dome is the upper half of the sphere, starting at the middle layer. Hollow domes have an open base, so you can walk in. Add a floor with the circle generator if you want one.
Frequently asked questions
How big can I go?
Up to 120 blocks in each direction. Larger shapes are better planned in sections.
Why do I get more blocks than a formula suggests?
Blocks are whole cubes, so the stepped surface uses more blocks than the smooth shape would. The counts here are exact for the block pattern.
What is the best way to build a sphere?
Build layer by layer from the bottom. Place the widest layers first to anchor the shape, and use temporary scaffolding blocks for the top.
Can I get a flat-topped or egg shape?
Use Ellipsoid and set the height smaller or larger than the width and depth.
Does it work for Bedrock?
Yes. The pattern is the same in Java and Bedrock.